Apples are the main fruit of Ukraine: analysis of production for 2023

Ukraine continues to be a country where apples occupy a leading place in fruit production. In 2023, this fruit accounted for almost 60% of the total volume of fruit and berry cultivation. These are the data of the report prepared by the Center for Food and Land Use Research at the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) in cooperation with the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine.

The main regions for apple production are the western and west-central regions of the country. In particular, the largest number of plantations are located in Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, Chernivtsi, Lviv and Zakarpattia regions. These regions are traditionally known for their favorable climatic conditions for fruit cultivation and many years of experience in horticulture.

The second most important fruit grown in Ukraine is cherry. Before the start of the full-scale war, the country ranked second in the world in terms of its production, second only to Turkey. However, in 2022, Ukraine moved to third place, which was a consequence of the loss of some of its plantations and production capacities.

The war significantly affected the fruit sector, especially in the south-eastern regions of the country. In particular, the area of ​​plantations was significantly reduced in such regions as Kherson, Zaporizhia, Donetsk, Luhansk and Mykolaiv. These regions, which previously had significant potential in horticulture, are now facing serious difficulties due to hostilities and occupation.

However, even in the conditions of war, Ukrainian farmers continue to work to preserve and develop the industry. The western regions of the country have taken on a significant share of production, providing not only the domestic market, but also the export component.

The report also indicates the importance of investments in the restoration of horticulture in the affected areas. This is necessary not only for the economy, but also for the ecology and food security of Ukraine.